Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) Half & Half

It seems like there are mixed feelings on this blend. I am personally of the crowd that likes it. I'm not really all that crazy about it but I do enjoy it. The smell from the pouch can put some people off, but I like it because we have a jar of potpourri that smells EXACTLY like this. For those of you who don't know what potpourri is imagine a very heavy bourbon mixed with citrus and cinnamon. Tasty, but will definitely put some people off. Tastes like a basic burley with a little added sweetness and (maybe) mulling spice. No bite, and could definitely smoke this all day if i wanted to. Just not to everyone's liking.

Well it may seem that all I review are the standard OTC tobaccos which by nature have hundreds of reviews, but I feel compelled to set the record straight. Half and half is good, very good as a matter of fact. It isn't the absolute best blend of complex alchemy ever invented by tobacconists but because my grandfather smoked it I was biased to give it a try. Take this review with a grain of salt as I have only been smoking a pipe for a year but no bite, smooth, burned well, best pouch note of any OTC, and can be mixed with a black Cavendish for an even better burn, recommended to all my friends if I had any. LOL

I like the current Scandinavian Tobacco Group iteration. I realize that each persons taste & aroma impressions are highly subjective. Reading over the other reviews here, one sees every description of this blend from anise, to cherry, deer tongue, etc... to those who perceive it as uncased Burley & Virginia. Having tried this in the past ( ancient pouches on dusty drug store shelves) from past makers, I can't say I was too impressed.... dry and bland. As years go by, from time to time, one sees these old familiar blends for sale and cannot help but ask what gives them their staying power in the market for so many decades... and I pick up another sample. The latest was of the STG current product. After finishing the pouch, I went and ordered a tub from P&C's. It's sweeter and spicier than I'd remembered, and I couldn't place the flavors, but they were definitely there and pleasant. Going to the horse's mouth, the STG web page, it states that Half and Half has flavorings of Cardamom and Coriander.... in my book, a unique combo, and one that works very well here. I also felt redeemed in my describing it as a sweet-spice flavor. Also, better from the tub! This is a tobacco that some will love, and others, not so much. All a matter of tastes. But I've come to really enjoy it's flavor & aroma, and would encourage others to try it without any preconceived notions about it.. ( it's a "codger blend".. "it's too inexpensive to be any good" etc...) .... just be sure you get current production, and not a shelf-relic.

This is my favorite pipe tobacco, my "Desert Island" pick. Yes, I like burley & yes, I like a cheap smoke. There is no shame in knowing what I like & admitting it. There isn't an activity I can do & smoke a pipe while doing that this doesn't fit. Walking the dog, fly fishing, doing yard work, Half & Half compliments them all. I like that the flavor is consistent from top to bottom & from bowl to bowl. I like the "mint" or "clove" essence (I'm not sure which it is). My only complaint w/ another “codger burley”, Prince Albert is its tendency to get bitter at the end of the bowl & Half & Half never gets bitter or bites. I can smoke this fresh out of a new pouch or when it's dry at the end & it still delivers a good smoke. The comments about “anise” or “licorice” are so far off the map I'm not sure where they come from. Or are people just repeating what they see other guys post? No anise flavor here. Nope, just a cargo of contentment.

I have recently been trying all the "old school" blends and have fallen in love with Half and Half (H&H). While many have commented on the simplicity of this blend as a negative, I think this is what gives this blend character. If you are looking for a smoke that tastes like tobacco, this is for you. I have been smoking this blend solely the last four days and find it to give me everything I look for in smoke - pleasant taste, easy to stay lit (low maintenance smoke), no tongue bite and a pleasant aftertaste when smoke is completed. I think I will make this my everyday smoke and know it will be available well after the evil FDA regulation goes into effect later this year. If you are looking for the Miller/Bud Light of tobaccos, this is it...simple and delicious!

This is a seriously underrated tobacco, and I think most seasoned pipe smokers know this. My first experience with this, was when I was young. But at a drugstore while on vacation. I won't lie, I hated the taste. But I was young, and I really didn't know much about tobacco, all I smoked at the time was aromatic blends. I know, I know, dont say it. But in all of my youthful ignorance, I did make one good observation. This stuff has a truly unique room note.

Time passed and I matured, after a few years of the normal pitfalls. The hard lessons, torched tongues, and general dissatisfaction with the flavor of smoke caused me to reevaluate everything and start a new from the basics. Corn cob pipes helped greatly to taste the true flavor of tobacco and become familiar with it. Cobs also help greatly to drop the pretentious image that so many young smokers pursue.

Eventually, years later I came back to this blend, and found it to be quite charming. It's an old time smoke. It smokes best from a cob. You don't puff this blend, little sips bring out its best. And yes, it still has a fantastic room note.

I don't see what everyone is complaining about.. its another blend that's been around for over 100 years...sure it may not be perfect but for its price (approx. $2.25 per oz) what do you expect ? If Ouellette tossed this in a tin with his name on it you would all be lining up to kiss his feet and tell him how great it is... so unroll your jeans and show some respect to a codger blend you snot nose hipster...

Out of the pouch/tub you're introduced to a classic American old-fashion "codger" blend scent of anisette and perhaps just a drop of vanilla and cocoa from the Burley.

Upon smoking it, that sweet old-fashion pipe smell comes out immediately. It's very mellow, smooth, and satisfying. The role of the Virginia is not to provide the sweetness, but rather to smooth out the Burley cocoa flavor. The sweetness, in my opinion, comes more from the toppings.

Its flavor is balance between the different ingredients, not much to think about, just smoke it.

As are other codger blends, this one is very easy to pack and smoke. The cut is, again, an old fashion cube, which makes it very easy to deal with. The flavor doesn't change throughout the smoke, and the moisture level is perfect right out of the tub/pouch. Easily an all-day smoke. For me, however, the only issue with the codger blends is that they're a bit too mild in strength for me to smoke all day. However, if this was as is, with just more nicotine kick, I could've easily "live off" this blend alone.

Aside from the mild strength, the body is mild as well. It isn't complex, nor is it a one-dimensional blend. There's enough there to satisfy and not bore, but also not something to make you stop whatever you do and start analyze it.

You can call it names, degrade it, push it aside, and not think about it. But when I want to have a smoke, I often reach out to Half & Half as a default. It tastes good, very easy to smoke, no chance of bite, and very affordable.

As a kid I remember walking in a room where half and half had been smoked and loving the very aromatic after smell. Now as a pipe smoker in my 40s, it is my #1 go to brand and the best tasting tobacco I have ever put in a pipe. Perhaps my opinion of it being the best is based in a somewhat biased criteria as it gives me a mild sense of de ja vu of a simpler time. Still, biased or not doesn't change the fact that it's a very good smoke. Five stars from me.